Colts lead Bears 19-14 in 3rd quarter

The Indianapolis Colts overcame three turnovers, a pair of squandered scoring chances, poor play on special teams and steady rain to lead the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning threw a 53-yard touchdown pass and Adam Vinatieri kicked two field goals as the Colts shook off a slow start to lead the Chicago Bears 19-14 in the third quarter Sunday night.

Vinatieri, who has hit two last-minute game-winning field goals in the Super Bowl, made field goals of 29 and 24 yards to extend Indy's lead midway through the third quarter.

Chicago rookie Devin Hester became the first Super Bowl player to return the opening kickoff for a score. Hester, who set an NFL record with six TD returns during the regular season, took the kick on the left side and ran right, then made two cuts to elude Marlin Jackson and broke into the clear for a 92-yard scamper.

The wild half also included six turnovers, a botched extra point, a missed field goal and a 52-yard run by Chicago's Thomas Jones.

Showers fell throughout the half, making the game the first Super Bowl to be played in rain. The conditions may have contributed to some sloppy play early, and four turnovers were a Super Bowl record for an opening period.

Manning, playing in his first Super Bowl, sought at age 30 to fill out his remarkable resume with a ring. But he threw an interception on the Colts' first series, and they lost two fumbles in Bears' territory.

On the first play after a fumble by Joseph Addai, Jones broke loose and ran to the Colts' 5. Chicago scored on third down on a 4-yard pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad.

Indy scored on its second possession when Reggie Wayne slipped 5 yards behind the secondary. Manning released the pass off balance under heavy pressure, and Wayne caught it at the 20 and cruised to the end zone.

The Colts' extra-point try was aborted when holder Hunter Smith had to reach to his right for the snap and bobbled it, leaving them behind 7-6.

The Colts quickly forced a punt and scored again. Dominic Rhodes' 1-yard run capped a 58-yard drive to put Indy ahead for the first time.

The teams lost fumbles on consecutive plays late in the half. Vinatieri was then wide left on a 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

Manning's first pass was deflected by middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and fell incomplete. The Colts picked up a first down but then had two false starts. Then, on third down, Manning's deep pass was intercepted by Chris Harris.

It was Manning's seventh interception of the postseason. He had only nine during the regular season.

Chicago also had trouble holding onto the ball, but Indianapolis failed to take advantage of two takeaways in Bears' territory.

After the Colts' first score, they tried a squib kick to keep the ball away from Hester. Gabe Reid fumbled the return and Indianapolis recovered at the 34, but the Colts fumbled the ball back.

Indy's Dwight Freeney recovered a fumble by Cedric Benson at the Bears' 43, but Indy gained only 3 yards in three plays and had to punt.

Benson hurt his left knee later in the first quarter and was expected to miss the rest of the game.

Manning finished the half 17-for-26 for 193 yards. Grossman was 6-for-8 for 32 yards and lost a fumble.

The NFL's most prolific passer, Manning has been dogged for years by critics who said he couldn't win a big game. But he rallied his team from an 18-point deficit against New England to win the AFC championship game.

The game made history before it began. It featured the Super Bowl's first black head coaches, Indy's Tony Dungy and Chicago's Lovie Smith, who also happen to be close friends.

Indianapolis was playing in its first Super Bowl even though Dungy's team has been a perennial title contender in recent years. The Bears sought their 10th NFL title, and their first since the 1985 team led by Jim McMahon and Mike Singletary.